36 cities that will shape India's future

36 cities that will shape India's future

India's large metropolises are struggling to cope with rapid growth and the rising demand for urban facilities, but smaller cities -- that have vast treasures of natural resources -- now have the opportunity to unlock their value and rival the country's mega cities.

The Global Initiative for Restructuring Environment & Management (GIREM), in its bid to give shape to this grand concept of building future cities, has identified 36 prominent Tier-II cities in India which in recent times have been nudging for recognition with their inherent strengths but still display muted promise of becoming great modern cities.

GIREM 36 focusses on a new strategy to develop smaller cities as magnets for allied investments in development of key areas of infrastructure, education, and research and industry.

36 cities that will shape India's future

A city of temples and cynosure of south Indian culture and tradition, Madurai presents a happy amalgamation of modernity and tradition. Amply anchored on education centres, it provides an ideal opportunity for developing into a model future city.

Ideal for business in - rubber producing centres, sport goods, production of automobile rubber component, automotive, IT & ITES, textile, retail and malls.

In the recent years, the city has seen growth in the hospitality industry.

36 cities that will shape India's future

A hub of technological, educational and agricultural activities, the hinterland this southern part of India boost of high tech production units like BHEL, which produces critical engineering products and components. Another example for Madurai to be developed as a composite model of modern city.

36 cities that will shape India's future

A pastoral city abutting Nilgris has emerged as a strong engineering, textiles, hosiery and poultry, industrial hub (auto components, sophisticated electrical motors) serving notice to emerge as important IT centre.

36 cities that will shape India's future

Predominantly a port city, Vishakapatnam boosts of an array of heavy and light industries. It's inherent strength as a tourism attraction and a big potential for financial services, retail and entertainment business can be the magnet for the investors to transform into a future 'smart city'.

Ideal for business in - port city, seat of education, tourism, petroleum, steel, fertilizer industries, iron ore and other mineral exports of India. Other industries include ITES, banking, real estate, retail and entertainment.

The city has seen rapid growth in the retail and entertainment sectors during the past decade.

36 cities that will shape India's future

Size of the city - Manesar has been developed in four phases. HSIDC has developed 1,750 acres (7.1 km2) of land in Phase I, while work is in progress in Phase II (180 acres) and Phase IV (650 acres). HSIDC has allotted phase III (600 acres) to Maruti Udyog Limited for their expansion project.

Why future city:

The famous Maurti Suzuki city is making waves with IT and BPO and boosting of industrious population of Haryana.

Has potential to become an envious future city rivaling its big brother Gurgaon.

Ideal for business in - education, hotels, industrial and commercial trade centre.

36 cities that will shape India's future

A sedate city of defense, educational and industrial establishments, has the distinction of being a very popular centre for visits for anybody, now requires a veneer of modernity to push it into a strong modern city.

36 cities that will shape India's future

Famed for its agricultural, research and education and closeness to Delhi, Pantnagar enjoys a special importance to be developed as a smart city and a hub of investment in industry based on agriculture and forestry.

36 cities that will shape India's future

One of the oldest industrial town wearing the reputation of India's leather and textile center, this neglected city endowed with many complex engineering, fertilizers, chemicals and auto industry badly needs to be revived and lent a hand with a future outlook.

Ideal for business in - Industrial town, textile and leather, fertilizer, chemicals, two wheelers, soaps, pan masala, hosiery and engineering industries, and ITES.

Outsourcing sector as a favoured location with several new startups setting up shop.

Allahabad

Population (2011) - 5,959,798

Education/colleges - 21

Size of the city - 63.07 square km

Why future city:

The city of holy Ganges and attracting pilgrims and tourists for its confluence of 3 important rivers, Allahabad needs to be given a facelift to bring into focus its education, business and tradition with a smarter city plan.

Ideal for business in - commercial business, glass and wire based small scale industry.

36 cities that will shape India's future

The holy city of the Ganges and an important ancient seat of learning, Varanasi is a potential future city with its education, tourism and manufacturing business.

Ideal for business in - education centre, textile, silk, IT potential, tourism, manufacturing.

Puducherry

Population (2011) - 973,829

Education/colleges - 109

Size of the city - 492 square kms

Why future city:

Still brisling with vestiges of French culture and sophisticated professional educational institution of the cost of Bay of Bengal; Puducherry needs to assume a futuristic look to give significance to its reputation as an international city, reflected in Auroville city.

36 cities that will shape India's future

These twin cities of UP, distinct in their characters of Mughal and Indian monuments and pilgrimage are already a centre of small scale industries and a growing center for hospitality, being part of the golden triangle of India's tourism centre ( Agra, Mathura, Jaipur).

36 cities that will shape India's future

A heavy engineering industry center, Ranchi has the potential to be the next smart city in the state of Jharkhand.

Ideal for business in - industrial, infrastructure, climate control equipment.

Patna

Population (2011) - 5,772,804

Education/colleges - 29

Size of the city - 109.218 square km

Why future city:

The capital of Bihar shrugging itself from the slumber of backwardness and static city is already a centre for IT, FMCG and educational activities. What it needs is connect with modernity and cosmopolitan culture.